Benefits Fair draws hundreds of employees

Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative Mary Ann Gagliardino (right) discusses benefits options with UD employees.

3:02 p.m., May 11, 2005--The 2005 UD Benefits Fair held Tuesday, May 10, at the Trabant University Center, offered UD employees a chance to learn about new and existing benefits options and talk to human resource specialists. It also gave all who attended a chance to meet with representatives from 25 different benefit and service provider organizations.

The annual event, which has been growing steadily in attendance since its inception in 1997, this year drew record numbers of employees from across the Newark campus.

“The number of employees who attend the Benefits Fair grows each year,” Christine Ulrich, manager of UD’s Office of Human Resources, said. “Last year we had more than 1,000 attendees, and this year we had more than 1,300. The open atmosphere gives employees a chance to talk to vendors firsthand and assess what benefits options are available to them at their own pace, before making a commitment.”

The fair, Ulrich said, also gives employees a chance to learn about any changes or additions to benefits options, such as the new vision plan (pending a collective bargaining agreement), which will replace the annual physical exam allowance of $175, beginning with the start of UD’s new fiscal year, July 1.

Additionally, the fair, which ran from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., offered employees a chance to have some fun and indulge in a bit of friendly competition with games such as the “benefits dice roll”--a game of chance that required participants to correctly answer a benefits-related question in order to win a prize.

Other giveaways included pens, pads, mugs and key rings, as well as hot dogs, fruit, soft drinks and chips.

“We try to create a fun atmosphere during the fair,” Ulrich said, “and this includes prizes and complimentary refreshments.”

This year, Ulrich added, the Herr’s Co. donated many of the free snacks.

“Employees can use the fair to gather information before deciding on changes at a later point,” Ulrich said, “but, they can also fill out different vendor forms while they are here, and a computer kiosk we’ve set up gives everyone who wants to the chance to complete their changes before leaving the fair.”

For the convenience of employees who need computer assistance and for those who do not have access to the Internet, a workstation is available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the Office of Human Resources at 413 Academy St.

Open enrollment

UD’s 2005 benefits open enrollment period continues through Friday, May 27, and all enrolled employees, whether making plan changes or not, are required to confirm their benefits status by then.

During this period, employees can change their elections, check their costs and confirm their enrollment for benefits beginning July 1 by logging on to FlexNet at [www.udel.edu/hr/enroll.htm].

To log on, employees will need:

A computer with Internet access;
Their UDelNet ID and password; or
Their Social Security Number and PIN (Personal Identification Number).

Besides confirming their own options, employees who cover a spouse under a University health plan are required to complete a “spousal coordination of benefits policy” form. This form will be provided electronically when confirming benefits enrollment online. All completed forms must be returned to the Office of Human Resources at 413 Academy St. no later than noon on Friday, May 27.

Human Resources staff are available to answer questions about flexible benefits and enrollment from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call (302) 831-2171 or send an e-mail to [ben-serv@udel.edu].

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photo by Kathy Atkinson

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